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A Bowl Of Crab Soup - Catching Dinner In The "Backyard"

November 8, 2010

People I meet when on travels are often wondering whether I am exaggerating when I enthusiastically mention getting our dinner fresh from the dock or the sea. The answer as you can see from the pictures below is no. Not at all. All the possessions in the world will never equate the intense sense of gratitude we feel from being so close to the water and taking some time receiving from the ocean some of its bounty.

View from the dock - what we call "the extended backyard".

We are indeed lucky to be able to just go catch a dozen crabs on a sunny Sunday afternoon or cast our net during shrimp season to make fresh shrimp and pesto linguine for dinner. Yes. We know. Once that first shrimp hits our lips, we can smell and taste all the depths of the ocean in just one bite. Slightly sweet, a bit salty, strong earthy flavor. It's like that first sip of perfectly cold beer on a sweltering day. Magic.

Bailey is one happy puppy!

I sort of apply the same feelings to the first soup enjoyed on the first chilly day of the year. I've been making the same ones every season. Crab soup and lentil soup with a poached egg on top. I can't say we get really cold weather here, maybe for a few weeks, but the little nip of crisp and chill weather is enough to turn everyone to light fires and make soup. Just because it's a bit chilly. Just to take the edge off.

Bailey and Bill checking on the crab catching progress.

Impatiently waiting for a drop in temperature last week, I got the pups and the husband to the dock to enjoy the cool ocean breeze for a little while. Once home, I opened up all the windows one night and let the breeze come wafting in while I started simmering this soup.

This guy is a little cold - not too speedy to realize what the heck is going on...

Anyone who has spent some time with the ocean will tell you that the world moves at a different pace. It tells you when your dinner is caught, not the other way around. It tells you to slow down for a while and just be. Observe. You might see some pretty nifty things this way.

A fiddler crab that looks straight out of "Pirates of The Caribbean" he spent so much time under water. A baby shrimp almost translucent as it's still building strength and character. A few porpoises at sunset playing hide and seek on the horizon (pics next time).

Trust me....he's not reaching for a hug.

Yes. I like traveling but I also like coming home. I am a mountain girl from the rocky side hills of Provence. I can also crack, pull apart and pick a crab faster than my mother in law now. Ha! I'm still discovering all that the ocean has to give and the abundant seafood culture of the South. But trust me I do my best every week while cooking to appreciate it even more. Starting with crab soup.

Simple, naturally sweet from the crab and with a tiny little kick to it, this soup is great as a starter for a celebration meal or on its own for a casual and cozy dinner. As with anything in life, it's best shared with loved ones and friends even though you might be tempted to hoard it all for yourself. Fair warning.

A bowl of hot crab soup, a piece of bread and a crackling fire. It's good to be home and take a breather before the next adventure.

P.S: Congratulations to Karin Alisa Houben and Kathy from Foodiebia - each winners of a copy of Food Heroes by Georgia Pelligrini. Send me your addresses at mytartelette {at} gmail {dot} com so that Georgia's publisher can get those out to you pronto!Crab Soup, adapted from Cooking Light 2003.

Notes: If you get the chance to get fresh crabs, just cook them in a pot of lightly salted boiling water for about 8 minutes per crab. To pick a crab, this video is really easy to follow.

Melt the butter with the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the carrot and the next 5 ingredients (through jalapeno), and sauté 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add salt, black pepper, herbes de Provence, and bay leaf. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the water, and cornstarch/water mixture and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring frequently.Stir in the milk and cream and cook 5 minutes. Stir in crabmeat and cognac cook 5 minutes or until the soup is thoroughly heated. Serve.

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comments:

Would love to have a bowl of this right now! Those pictures of the crabs are beautiful! Living so close to the water is a treat for fresh seafood. My husband and I live in Mobile, AL and he goes grabbing all the time, there is nothing better than fresh crab meat!

This makes me want to live close to the water! But in this area of germany where I live we only have a river which is grey, cold and uncomfortable. But thank god I have your beautiful pictures to look at! :-)

My grandfather had a house on the Wye River (of the Cheasapeake Bay in Maryland) up until a few years ago and I had been crabbing since I was little. Needless to say, I was spoiled with the amount of crabs we ate during the summer. Now that I have to go bye them, I can't believe how expensive they are!! I miss it!

Oh yum! You're so making me wish I were at DeBordieu (South Carolina) where we catch blue crabs. We'll spend hours sitting at that table picking and eating and picking and eating and then just picking when we're full, talking about what to make the next day with our picked crab. The soup looks incredibly yummy!

Beautiful! I recently moved from the east coast to the midwest. I really miss the ocean -- that photo of the blue water made me think about the rhythm of the waves, just watching them swell up and down. Your photos are fabulous.

I used to say the same thing to my MIL, my husband is from Maryland and we have enjoyed the bounty from the Chesapeake Bay for many years. We still own a cottage there and August is crab running season...delightful blog and recipe!

Your photos are always amazing and makes me just wanna grab my camera and do something! :) This post reminds me of my childhood when fishes bought from the market could actually still swim when you get home.

Once again you have set my eyes twinkling, mouth salivating and mind wandering.I can't tell you how thoroughly I savor each new episode. Your exquisite imagery, warm storytelling and enticing recipes take me on wonderful sensory journeys. Thank you for sharing all of this beauty and wonderment.Now the gravy at the bottom of the bowl (you know, that luscious bit that you simply must tear another piece of bread off to sop it up): I unabashedly admit to doing a whoop and jump for joy when I spotted my name as winner of your current give-away!I so look forward to sinking my teeth into Food Heros!Many Thanks!!!

I don't eat seafood while I'm at home in north Texas (I have issues with the freshness available), but the soup looks delicious. I'm going to the Atlantic coast next summer and I'll have to try crab soup when I'm there.

I think this is one of my favourite posts by you - such beautiful images (as usual!)I live by the Pacific and you are so right that the world by the sea does indeed move at a different pace. Winter is my favourite time to be by the sea. Thanks for this.

Oh, this post has made me so sad for my poor Gulf Coast. We used to be able to enjoy fresh fish from the ocean (even if we didn't catch it ourselves.) Now...the fishing has started again, but the catch is, well, oily. I don't think it will ever be the same again.

I've never commented before (crazy me), but I just love your blog. Love your photos. Love your spirit. I'm stoked about your food styling book and have already decided that I'm buying it for myself this Christmas. So thanks for doing what you do and for encouraging the rest of us to be creative. You have a real gift!